New Delhi (Mizzima) – Twenty five independent candidates set to contest in the Burmese military junta's proposed general elections scheduled for 2010, have formed a network.
"We must certainly face 2010 elections, either as an independent or as a party in this multi-party election. We decided to contest as independent candidates. At the same time, we knew that we would be in a weak position, if we contested as independent candidates. So, we have decided to explore how to consolidate our position. Then I proposed a network and all the others agreed,” Nay Myo Wei, who hails from Bogale and is a member of this network said.
He frequently posts his opinion on the internet, criticizing the exiled movement.
All the network members have accepted the junta's 7-fold roadmap and constitution, which was approved in the May 2008 Referendum.
According to the statement issued by this network received by Mizzima, there will be independent candidates, organizers and sympathizers, who will assist in contesting the elections.
The main opposition party 'National League for Democracy' (NLD) has called for reviewing the junta's unilaterally drafted constitution and said contesting in this election was out of the question for them.
Party spokesperson, Nyan Win, said that if the constitution was not reviewed, it would legitimize military rule and would put the country into more trouble.
The independent candidates, popularly known as the Third Force, said that the politically competent candidates should contest the general elections and should educate the people on how to select their representatives.
"Even if we do not contest in this election, other candidates will appear and contest it. We should give a chance to the people to study their candidates and assess them on how qualified these people are for Parliament, how much they can develop our country, their ideology etc. So, we announced our plan to inform the people in time for them," Nay Myo Wei said.
The network members said that they would present their aims and objectives to the people through the media. They also said that they would contest from either the Mingaladon constituency, Rangoon Division or Bogale constituency in Irrawaddy Division.
"We follow pluralism. We will join hands with all those who have different views and opinions. We will work together," he said.
"We avoid 'public politics' since the public has quit politics. This is reality. So we chose 'elite politics', " he added.
